Author: stlucieappraisal - Page 5 - THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

Diminished Value Pomona, CA

August 28, 2025June 2, 2024 by stlucieappraisal

St. Lucie Appraisal, automobile, personal property, diminished value, appraiser

A diminished value appraisal of a Toyota Camry Sedan with 56,731 miles that was involved in a front and rear collision that caused $8,455.21 in damage. The vehicle was not disabled/towed, had structural damage and no air bag deployment.

Mini Cooper Diminished Value Claim in Bloomington, Indiana

August 28, 2025June 2, 2024 by stlucieappraisal

St. Lucie Automobile and Diminished Value Appraiser

Regarding our diminished value appraisal of a MINI Cooper Countryman Wagon with 40,200 miles that was involved in a Rear End Collision that caused $6,974.44 in damage. The car was disabled/towed and had structural damage and no air bag deployment.

Diminished Value Nashville

June 9, 2024June 2, 2024 by stlucieappraisal

Each week we report on the most interesting and informative articles concerning auto diminished value claims. Regarding our diminished value appraisal of a Honda Accord EX-L NAV with 34,813 miles that was involved in a front end collision on 10/04/2017 that caused $6,152.13 in damage. The vehicle was not disabled/towed, had structural damage and no air bag deployment. The claimant made a third-party inherent auto diminished value claim for the vehicle’s loss in value. Once a car is repaired after a collision, it is worth less, often much less depending on the severity of the damage. Regardless of how well the repairer did his job, nobody will pay as much for a previously wrecked car as they would for an identical one that was never in an accident. Presenting a diminished value claim and following it through to a satisfactory conclusion is a daunting task for the average person. Obtaining a comprehensive Diminished Value Report is key.
WE DON’T USE FORMULAS, ALGORITHMS, AD COMPARISONS OR OTHER SHORT CUTS
SIX UNBIASED DEALER QUOTES IN EVERY APPRAISAL TO VALIDATE OUR RESEARCH
TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS ALWAYS FREE-OF-CHARGE

We learned from these examples from sales managers at Honda dealers in Tennessee. One dealer would not even take the car in trade. Also, it would be considered a wholesale or “auction” car especially with amount of damage listed on Carfax, even if it was repaired correctly you could still be looking at a loss of 30% or more. And because of the bad Carfax report, the car owner will have a pretty large loss when it comes to the overall trade in value. Frame damage really hurts the overall perception

The opinions of unbiased experts form the basis for the most comprehensive Auto Diminished Value Appraisal available. We obtain six of them which absolutely puts the diminished value figure prepared by The St. Lucie Appraisal Company in the ballpark. This is what the car owner will experience in the real world.

Dealers providing opinions regarding diminished value were given information specific to this vehicle including year, make, model, mileage, color, options, any other pertinent equipment, date of loss as well as the nature of the repaired damages and the manner in which the vehicle was repaired. Dealer opinions are based on personal knowledge and access to auction results. Dealers were advised that this vehicle was properly repaired.

We contacted several Honda dealers in Tennessee in order to establish how these repairs and the resultant repair history would impact this vehicle’s Fair Market Value (FMV.) Dealers were provided with an evaluation of the vehicle’s condition both prior and subsequent to repairs.

Description of damage: Non-disabling collision damages to the Front with damage to structural components and no air bag deployment. Repair cost $6,152.13. LKQ (used) and/or aftermarket parts were utilized in the repair/not factored in to the diminished value.

The average of six (6) deductions was 32.50%. This is the percentage of Diminished Value to be taken from the FMV at the time of loss.

We established that the above captioned vehicle had a Fair Market Value (Average Trade-In Value) of approximately $15,500.00 at the time of loss. The Diminished Value was $5,037.50.

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

Click on the payment button above to pay by Credit Card or Paypal. The fee for an Automobile Diminished Value Report is
$275.00. You may also make your Credit Card Payment by telephone, call 772-359-4300.

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

Service in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Jackson, Johnson City, Bartlett, Hendersonville, Kingsport, Collierville and throughout Tennessee.Anderson, Bedford, Benton, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Cannon, Carroll, Carter, Cheatham, Chester, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Coffee, Crockett, Cumberland, Davidson, Decatur, DeKalb, Dickson, Dyer, Fayette, Fentress, Franklin, Gibson, Giles, Grainger, Greene, Grundy, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardeman, Hardin, Hawkins, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lake, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Loudon, McMinn, McNairy, Macon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Maury, Meigs, Monroe, Montgomery, Moore, Morgan, Obion, Overton, Perry, Pickett, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Robertson, Rutherford, Scott, Sequatchie, Sevier, Shelby, Smith, Stewart, Sullivan, Sumner, Tipton, Trousdale, Unicoi, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Weakley, White, Williamson and Wilson Counties. auto appraiser near 37013, auto appraiser near 37076, auto appraiser near 37115, auto appraiser near 37211, auto appraiser near 37221

This is an Open Education resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company
READ MORE ARTICLES…

Diminished Value Port St. Lucie

June 5, 2024June 2, 2024 by stlucieappraisal

Each week we report on the most interesting and informative articles concerning auto diminished value claims. A diminished value appraisal of a Dodge Ram ProMaster 2500 Cargo Van with 1,154 miles that was involved in a left side collision that caused $9,040.58 in damage. The vehicle was not disabled/towed, had structural damage and no air bag deployment. The claimant hired an independent auto appraiser and made a third-party inherent auto diminished value claim for the vehicle’s loss in value. Once a car is repaired after a collision, it is worth less, often much less depending on the severity of the damage. Regardless of how well the repairer did his job, nobody will pay as much for a previously wrecked car as they would for an identical one that was never in an accident. Presenting a diminished value claim and following it through to a satisfactory conclusion is a daunting task for the average person. Obtaining a comprehensive Diminished Value Report is key.
WE DON’T USE FORMULAS, ALGORITHMS, AD COMPARISONS OR OTHER SHORT CUTS
SIX UNBIASED DEALER QUOTES IN EVERY APPRAISAL TO VALIDATE OUR RESEARCH
TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS ALWAYS FREE-OF-CHARGE

We learned from these examples from sales managers at Dodge dealerships in South Florida – One dealer said that with it being new with hardly any miles and is showing frame damage on Carfax may see a loss of 35%. Another dealer explained that because the truck was new there would be a greater loss than if it were older simply because it is valued higher with it being a new vehicle said that anytime there is frame damage that has to be disclosed to buyers and they will want a lot of $ taken off therefore they can;t make what they want off it and they could not give you what you would want for it either unfortunately in these cases there may be a 30-40% loss on average.

The opinions of six unbiased professional sales managers at recognized new car dealerships form the basis for the most comprehensive Auto Diminished Value Appraisal available. We obtain six of them to validate the diminished value report prepared by The St. Lucie Appraisal Company. This is what the car owner will experience in the real world.

FLORIDA ADJUSTERS LICENSE — FLORIDA LICENSEDINDEPENDENT ADJUSTER

The six dealers providing opinions regarding diminished value were given information specific to this vehicle including year, make, model, mileage, pre-accident condition, color, options, any other pertinent equipment, date of loss as well as the nature of the repaired damages and the manner in which the vehicle was repaired. Dealer opinions are based on personal knowledge and access to auction results. Dealers were advised that this vehicle was properly repaired.

We contacted several Dodge dealers in South Florida to establish how these repairs and the resultant repair history would impact this vehicle’s Fair Market Value (FMV). Dealers were provided with an evaluation of the vehicle’s condition both prior and subsequent to repairs.

Description of damage: Non-disabling collision damages to the left side including damage to structural components and no air bag deployment. Repair cost $9,040.58. LKQ (used) and/or aftermarket parts were not utilized in the repair/not factored in to the diminished value.

The average of six (6) deductions was 32.08%. This is the percentage of Diminished Value to be taken from the FMV at the time of loss.

We established that the above captioned vehicle had a Fair Market Value (Average Trade-In Value) of approximately $30,000.00 at the time of loss. The Diminished Value was $9,624.00

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

Service in Altamonte Springs, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Bradenton, Cape Coral, Clearwater, Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Davie, Daytona Beach, Delray Beach, Deltona, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Pierce, Gainesville, Hialeah, Hollywood, Homestead, Jacksonville, Jupiter, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Largo, Lauderhill, Margate, Melbourne, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Gardens, Miramar, North Port, Ocala, Orlando, Palm Bay, Pembroke Pines, Pensacola, Plantation, Pompano Beach, Port Orange, Port St. Lucie, St. Petersburg, Sanford, Stuart, Sunrise, Tallahassee, Tamarac, Tampa, Vero Beach, Wellington, Weston and throughout Florida.

Alachua, Baker, Bay ,Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, De Soto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton and Washington Counties. automobile appraiser near 34952, automobile appraiser near 34953, automobile appraiser near 34983, automobile appraiser near 34986

Diminished Value Claim Memphis

June 10, 2024June 2, 2024 by stlucieappraisal

Each week we report on the most interesting and informative articles concerning auto diminished value claims. A diminished value appraisal of a Dodge Grand Caravan SXT Plus Van with 13,879 miles that was involved in a Rear-end collision that caused $3,177.36 in damage. The vehicle was not disabled/towed, had no structural damage and no air bag deployment. The claimant hired an independent auto appraiser and made a third-party inherent auto diminished value claim for the vehicle’s loss in value. Once a car is repaired after a collision, it is worth less, often much less depending on the severity of the damage. Regardless of how well the repairer did his job, nobody will pay as much for a previously wrecked car as they would for an identical one that was never in an accident. Presenting a diminished value claim and following it through to a satisfactory conclusion is a daunting task for the average person. Obtaining a comprehensive Diminished Value Report is key.
WE DON’T USE FORMULAS, ALGORITHMS, AD COMPARISONS OR OTHER SHORT CUTS
SIX UNBIASED DEALER QUOTES IN EVERY APPRAISAL TO VALIDATE OUR RESEARCH
TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS ALWAYS FREE-OF-CHARGE

We learned from these examples from sales managers at Dodge dealerships in Tennessee – One dealer explained that for minor damage like this you are looking at about a 10-15% loss but would depend on the overall condition and what is showing on the Carfax. Another dealer reported an average of about a few thousand dollars loss with bad Carfax, that is the typical loss of value with a vehicle like this with a small reported accident.

We contacted several Dodge dealers in Tennessee to establish how these repairs and the resultant repair history would impact this vehicle’s Fair Market Value (FMV). Dealers were provided with an evaluation of the vehicle’s condition both prior and subsequent to repairs.

A Diminished Value Claim in Memphis, Tennessee

Description of damage: Non-disabling collision damages to the Rear not including damage to structural components and no air bag deployment. Repair cost $3,177.36. LKQ (used) and/or aftermarket parts were not utilized in the repair/not factored in to the diminished value.

The average of six (6) deductions was 13.33%. This is the percentage of Diminished Value to be taken from the FMV at the time of loss.

We established that the above captioned vehicle had a Fair Market Value (Average Trade-In Value) of approximately $20,000.00 at the time of loss. The Diminished Value was $2,666.00

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

Service in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Jackson, Johnson City, Bartlett, Hendersonville, Kingsport, Collierville and throughout Tennessee.

Anderson, Bedford, Benton, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Cannon, Carroll, Carter, Cheatham, Chester, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Coffee, Crockett, Cumberland, Davidson, Decatur, DeKalb, Dickson, Dyer, Fayette, Fentress, Franklin, Gibson, Giles, Grainger, Greene, Grundy, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardeman, Hardin, Hawkins, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lake, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Loudon, McMinn, McNairy, Macon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Maury, Meigs, Monroe, Montgomery, Moore, Morgan, Obion, Overton, Perry, Pickett, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Robertson, Rutherford, Scott, Sequatchie, Sevier, Shelby, Smith, Stewart, Sullivan, Sumner, Tipton, Trousdale, Unicoi, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Weakley, White, Williamson and Wilson Counties. auto appraiser near 38109, auto appraiser near 38111, auto appraiser near 38115, auto appraiser near 38116, auto appraiser near 38118, auto appraiser near 38127, auto appraiser near 38128, auto appraiser near 38134

Diminished Value Miami

June 10, 2024June 2, 2024 by stlucieappraisal

Each week we report on the most interesting and informative articles concerning auto diminished value claims. Regarding our diminished value appraisal of a Cadillac XT5 Luxury SUV with 11,114 miles that was involved in a Front End Collision that caused $16,634.59 in damage. The car was disabled/towed and had structural damage and air bag deployment.The claimant hired a car appraiser near Miami and made a third-party inherent auto diminished value claim for the vehicle’s loss in value. Once a car is repaired after a collision, it is worth less, often much less depending on the severity of the damage. Regardless of how well the repairer did his job, nobody will pay as much for a previously wrecked car as they would for an identical one that was never in an accident. Presenting a diminished value claim and following it through to a satisfactory conclusion is a daunting task for the average person. Obtaining a comprehensive Diminished Value Report is key.
WE DON’T USE FORMULAS, ALGORITHMS, AD COMPARISONS OR OTHER SHORT CUTS
SIX UNBIASED DEALER QUOTES IN EVERY APPRAISAL TO VALIDATE OUR RESEARCH
TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS ALWAYS FREE-OF-CHARGE

We learned from these examples from sales managers at Cadillac dealerships in Florida – You will lose a minimum of 25% of the value due to the frame damage alone. Also that dealers would have to sell this vehicle at auction limiting the amount they can pay for your trade-in and also that a bad Carfax makes it harder to sell especially because such picky customers generally purchase these types of vehicles. The opinions of unbiased experts form the basis for the most comprehensive Auto Diminished Value Appraisal available. We obtain six of them which absolutely puts the diminished value figure prepared by The St. Lucie Appraisal Company in the ballpark. This is what the car owner will experience in the real world.

We contacted several Cadillac dealers in Florida in order to establish how these repairs and the resultant repair history would impact this vehicle’s Fair Market Value (FMV.) Dealers were provided with an evaluation of the vehicle’s condition both prior and subsequent to repairs.

Description of damage: Disabling collision damages to the Front including damage to structural components and air bag deployment. Repair cost $16,634.59 LKQ (used) and/or aftermarket parts were not utilized in the repair/not factored in to the diminished value.

The average of six (6) deductions was 31.25%. This is the percentage of Diminished Value to be taken from the FMV at the time of loss.

We established that the above captioned vehicle had a Fair Market Value (Average Trade-In Value) of approximately $35,000.00 at the time of loss. The Diminished Value was $10,937.50.

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

Fullerton Diminished Value

June 7, 2024June 2, 2024 by stlucieappraisal

Each week we report on the most interesting and informative articles concerning auto diminished value claims. A diminished value appraisal of a Lexus IS350 Sedan with 21,832 miles that was involved in a Front-end collision that caused $26,942.00 in damage. The vehicle was disabled/towed, had structural damage and air bag deployment. The claimant hired an independent auto appraiser and made a third-party inherent auto diminished value claim for the vehicle’s loss in value. Once a car is repaired after a collision, it is worth less, often much less depending on the severity of the damage. Regardless of how well the repairer did his job, nobody will pay as much for a previously wrecked car as they would for an identical one that was never in an accident. Presenting a diminished value claim and following it through to a satisfactory conclusion is a daunting task for the average person. Obtaining a comprehensive Diminished Value Report is key.
WE DON’T USE FORMULAS, ALGORITHMS, AD COMPARISONS OR OTHER SHORT CUTS
SIX UNBIASED DEALER QUOTES IN EVERY APPRAISAL TO VALIDATE OUR RESEARCH
TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS ALWAYS FREE-OF-CHARGE

We learned from these examples from sales managers at Lexus dealerships in Southern California – One dealer said that there definitely would be a loss could be as much as 45% of the cars value something of this nature would 9 times out of 10 go right to auction. Another dealer explained that if this were a $100,000 car you may only be offered now only 50- 60k for it because of the large amount of damage and the airbags and frame being damaged due to the wreck itself. Once they disclose to buyers they either walk away or expect to pay half of retail.

We contacted several Lexus dealers in Southern California to establish how these repairs and the resultant repair history would impact this vehicle’s Fair Market Value (FMV). Dealers were provided with an evaluation of the vehicle’s condition both prior and subsequent to repairs.

A Diminished Value Claim in Fullerton, California

Description of damage: Disabling collision damages to the Front including damage to structural components and air bag deployment. Repair cost $26,942.00. LKQ (used) and/or aftermarket parts were utilized in the repair/not factored in to the diminished value.

The average of six (6) deductions was 44.17%. This is the percentage of Diminished Value to be taken from the FMV at the time of loss.

We established that the above captioned vehicle had a Fair Market Value (Average Trade-In Value) of approximately $32,000.00 at the time of loss. The Diminished Value was $14,134.40

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

Service in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, Oakland, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Riverside, Stockton, Chula Vista, Irvine, Fremont, San Bernardino, Modesto, Oxnard, Fontana, Moreno Valley, Huntington Beach, Glendale, Santa Clarita, Garden Grove, Oceanside, Santa Rosa, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Elk Grove, Lancaster, Corona, Palmdale, Salinas, Hayward, Pomona, Escondido, Sunnyvale, Torrance, Orange, Pasadena, Fullerton, Thousand Oaks, Visalia, Roseville, Simi Valley, Concord, Victorville, Santa Clara, Vallejo, Berkeley, El Monte, Downey, Costa Mesa, Inglewood, Carlsbad, Fairfield, Ventura, Richmond, Murrieta, Antioch, Temecula, Norwalk, Daly City, Burbank, Santa Maria, El Cajon, Rialto, San Mateo, Clovis, Jurupa Valley, Compton, Vista, Mission Viejo, South Gate, Vacaville, Carson, Santa Monica, Arden-Arcade, Hesperia, Westminster, Redding, Santa Barbara, San Marcos, Chico, San Leandro, Newport Beach, Whittier, Hawthorne, Citrus Heights, Livermore, Tracy, Alhambra, Indio, Menifee, Buena Park, Hemet, Lakewood, Merced, Chino, Redwood City, Lake Forest, Napa, Tustin, Mountain View, Bellflower, Baldwin Park, Alameda, Upland, San Ramon, Pleasanton and throughout California.

Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo and Yuba Counties. auto appraiser near 92831, auto appraiser near 92832, auto appraiser near 92833

Diminished Value Little Rock

June 8, 2024June 2, 2024 by stlucieappraisal

Each week we report on the most interesting and informative articles concerning auto diminished value claims. A diminished value appraisal of a Chevrolet Traverse LT1 AWD SUV with 8,684 miles that was involved in a right side collision that caused $15,982.08 in damage. The vehicle was disabled/towed, had structural damage and air bag deployment. The claimant hired an independent auto appraiser and made a third-party inherent auto diminished value claim for the vehicle’s loss in value. Once a car is repaired after a collision, it is worth less, often much less depending on the severity of the damage. Regardless of how well the repairer did his job, nobody will pay as much for a previously wrecked car as they would for an identical one that was never in an accident. Presenting a diminished value claim and following it through to a satisfactory conclusion is a daunting task for the average person. Obtaining a comprehensive Diminished Value Report is key.
WE DON’T USE FORMULAS, ALGORITHMS, AD COMPARISONS OR OTHER SHORT CUTS
SIX UNBIASED DEALER QUOTES IN EVERY APPRAISAL TO VALIDATE OUR RESEARCH
TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS ALWAYS FREE-OF-CHARGE

We learned from these examples from sales managers at Chevrolet dealerships in Arkansas – One dealer said that because the car is so new it will take the biggest hit around 40% normally could be half unfortunately, especially because there is air bags deployed and frame damage which generally would go to the auction. Another dealer explained that because the Carfax would be listed as the most severe accident they would not be able to give us the book for the car unfortunately they would have to resell wholesale on this due to the amount of damage listed you could see a loss of close to 50%.

We contacted several Chevrolet dealers in Arkansas to establish how these repairs and the resultant repair history would impact this vehicle’s Fair Market Value (FMV). Dealers were provided with an evaluation of the vehicle’s condition both prior and subsequent to repairs.

A Diminished Value Claim in Little Rock, Arkansas

Description of damage: Disabling collision damages to the right side including damage to structural components and air bag deployment. Repair cost $15,982.08. LKQ (used) and/or aftermarket parts were not utilized in the repair/not factored in to the diminished value.

The average of six (6) deductions was 42.50%. This is the percentage of Diminished Value to be taken from the FMV at the time of loss.

We established that the above captioned vehicle had a Fair Market Value (Average Trade-In Value) of approximately $30,000.00 at the time of loss. The Diminished Value was $12,750.00

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

Service in Little Rock, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Springdale, Jonesboro, North Little Rock, Conway, Rogers, Pine Bluff, Bentonville, Hot Springs, Benton, Sherwood, Texarkana and throughout Arkansas.

Arkansas, Ashley, Baxter, Benton, Boone, Bradley, Calhoun, Carroll,
Chicot, Clark, Clay, Cleburne, Cleveland, Columbia, Conway, Craighead, Crawford, Cross, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Franklin, Fulton,, Garland,, Grant,, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Little River, Logan, Lonoke, Madison, Marion, Miller, Mississippi, Monroe, Montgomery, Nevada, Newton, Ouachita, Perry, Phillips, Pike, Poinsett, Polk, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, Saint Francis, Saline, Scott, Searcy, Sebastian, Sevier, Sharp, Stone, Union, Van Buren, Washington, White, Woodruff and Yell Counties. auto appraiser near 72204, auto appraiser near 72206, auto appraiser near 72209

Diminished Value Tucson

June 6, 2024June 2, 2024 by stlucieappraisal

Each week we report on the most interesting and informative articles concerning auto diminished value claims. A diminished value appraisal of a Lexus IS 200t with 14,891 miles that was involved in a Rear-end collision that caused $4,924.38 in damage. The vehicle was not disabled/towed, had no structural damage and no air bag deployment. The claimant hired AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and made a third-party inherent auto diminished value claim for the vehicle’s loss in value. Once a car is repaired after a collision, it is worth less, often much less depending on the severity of the damage. Regardless of how well the repairer did his job, nobody will pay as much for a previously wrecked car as they would for an identical one that was never in an accident. Presenting a diminished value claim and following it through to a satisfactory conclusion is a daunting task for the average person. Obtaining a comprehensive Diminished Value Report is key.

YOUR CAR WAS WRECKED AND REPAIRED.WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?

We learned from these examples from sales managers at Lexus dealerships in Arizona and surrounding states – One dealer said as long as there is no frame damage and no air bag deployment then it would be minor accident and if the Carfax shows minor accident maybe a 10-15% loss at most. Another dealer relayed that they would take it on a trade-in, $5,000 worth of damage is pretty minor being the sticker price exceeds 20 k if it was fixed well and you don’t mind losing a few thousand dollars+++ then they would take it off your hands.

We contacted several Lexus dealers in Arizona and surrounding states to establish how these repairs and the resultant repair history would impact this vehicle’s Fair Market Value (FMV). Dealers were provided with an evaluation of the vehicle’s condition both prior and subsequent to repairs.

A Diminished Value Claim in Tucson, Arizona

Description of damage: Non-disabling collision damages to the Rear with no damage to structural components and no air bag deployment. Repair cost $4,924.38. LKQ (used) and/or aftermarket parts not were utilized in the repair/not factored in to the diminished value.

The average of six (6) deductions was 14.08%. This is the percentage of Diminished Value to be taken from the FMV at the time of loss.

We established that the above captioned vehicle had a Fair Market Value (Average Trade-In Value) of approximately $25,000.00 at the time of loss. The Diminished Value was $3,520.00

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

Service throughout Arizona including Apache Junction, Avondale, Buckeye, Bullhead City, Casa Grande, Chandler, Flagstaff, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Lake Havasu City, Marana, Mesa, Oro Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Prescott, Scottsdale, Sierra Vista, Surprise, Tempe, Tucson and Yuma.

Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yavapai, Yuma Counties. auto appraiser near 85711, auto appraiser near Tucson, claim, diminished value, near 85705, near 85706, near 85710, near 85713, near 85719, near 85745, near 85746

Diminished Value Pearl River, New York

June 14, 2024June 2, 2024 by stlucieappraisal

A diminished value appraisal of a BMW 435xi AWD Automatic Coupe with 53,510 miles that was involved in a Left Side Collision that caused $9,408.19 in damage. The vehicle was disabled/towed, had structural damage and no air bag deployment. The claimant hired an independent auto appraiser and made a third-party inherent auto diminished value claim for the vehicle’s loss in value. Once a car is repaired after a collision, it is worth less, often much less depending on the severity of the damage. Regardless of how well the repairer did his job, nobody will pay as much for a previously wrecked car as they would for an identical one that was never in an accident. Presenting a diminished value claim and following it through to a satisfactory conclusion is a daunting task for the average person. Obtaining a comprehensive Diminished Value Report is key.
WE DON’T USE FORMULAS, ALGORITHMS, AD COMPARISONS OR OTHER SHORT CUTS
SIX UNBIASED DEALER QUOTES IN EVERY APPRAISAL TO VALIDATE OUR RESEARCH
TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS ALWAYS FREE-OF-CHARGE

We learned from these examples from sales managers at BMW dealerships in New York – One dealer would take it as a trade but deduct 25% + due to the frame being damaged in the accident. Also, frame damaged cars more than likely wont be resold retail on the lot if the damage is bad enough it will be sold at auction. And, there will be a loss the actual amount of loss will be determined by many factors. It can be as high as half if it is bad enough.

The opinions of six unbiased professionals form the basis for the most comprehensive Auto Diminished Value Appraisal available. We obtain six of them to validate the diminished value report prepared by The St. Lucie Appraisal Company. This is what the car owner will experience in the real world.

The six dealers providing opinions regarding diminished value were given information specific to this vehicle including year, make, model, mileage, color, options, any other pertinent equipment, date of loss as well as the nature of the repaired damages and the manner in which the vehicle was repaired. Dealer opinions are based on personal knowledge and access to auction results. Dealers were advised that this vehicle was properly repaired.

We contacted several BMW dealers in New York to establish how these repairs and the resultant repair history would impact this vehicle’s Fair Market Value (FMV.) Dealers were provided with an evaluation of the vehicle’s condition both prior and subsequent to repairs.

A BMW Diminished Value Claim in Pearl River, New York

Description of damage: Disabling collision damages to the Left Side including damage to structural components and no air bag deployment. Repair cost $9,408.19. LKQ (used) and/or aftermarket parts were not utilized in the repair/not factored in to the diminished value.

The average of six (6) deductions was 33.75%. This is the percentage of Diminished Value to be taken from the FMV at the time of loss.

We established that the above captioned vehicle had a Fair Market Value (Average Trade-In Value) of approximately $32,500.00 at the time of loss. The Diminished Value was $10,968.75

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.
Service in Albany, Amherst, Babylon, Brookhaven, Brooklyn, Bronx, Cheektowaga, Clarkstown, Colonie, Greece, Greenburgh, Hamburg, Hempstead, Huntington, Irondequoit, Islip, Manhattan, North Hempstead, New York City, Orangetown, Oyster Bay, Poughkeepsie, Queens, Ramapo, Rye, Smithtown, Staten Island, Tonawanda, Union, Webster, West Seneca, White Plains and throughout New York.

Albany, Allegany, Bronx, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Kings, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Nassau, New York, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westchester, Wyoming and Yates Counties

SERVICE AREAS

March 13, 2025March 13, 2024 by stlucieappraisal

About Us

Established in 1981, The St. Lucie Appraisal Company has over four decades of experience specializing in:

Automobile Appraisals
Diminished Value Appraisals
Total Loss Disputes

We proudly serve clients in all 50 states, offering reliable and professional appraisal services nationwide.

Our Services

Vehicle appraisals for insurance underwriting and claims, legal cases, estates, DMV, donations, financing and resale value.
Diminished value assessments to calculate loss in value after accidents.
Manufactured and Mobile Home appraisals for chattel mortgages, insurance, legal, or other purposes.

Our Service Locations

We serve clients nationwide with convenient service locations in major cities:

Florida: Fort Pierce – 1717 Orange Ave, Fort Pierce, FL 34954
Coral City – 4722 SE 17th Avenue, Coral City, FL 33904
Arizona: Phoenix – 4114 North 28th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Georgia: Atlanta – 235 Pharr Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
Illinois: Chicago – 343 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604
Indiana: Indianapolis – 456 Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208
Iowa: Des Moines – 405 6th Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309
Kansas: Wichita – 1010 N. Ridge Road, Wichita, KS 67212
Kentucky: Louisville – 657 South 3rd Street, Louisville, KY 40202
Louisiana: New Orleans – 701 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113
Maryland: Baltimore – 511 W. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 70113
Alabama: Birmingham – 1623 2nd Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203
Minnesota: Minneapolis – 110 West Grant Street, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Mississippi: Jackson – 127 South Roach Street, Jackson, MS 39201
Missouri: Joplin – 628 South Main Street, Joplin, MO 64801
Nevada: Las Vegas – 3875 Cambridge Street, Las Vegas, NV 89119
New York: New York City – 66 West 38th Street, New York, NY 10018
New Mexico: Albuquerque – 6801 Los Volcanes Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87121
North Carolina: Charlotte – 215 N. Pine Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Ohio: Middletown – 6730 Roosevelt Avenue, Middletown, OH 45005
Arkansas: Little Rock – 320 South University Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72205
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City – 101 Park Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia – 100 North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Oregon: Portland – 534 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97204
South Carolina: North Charleston – 4000 S. Faber Place Drive, North Charleston, SC 29405
Tennessee: Nashville – 95 White Bridge Pike, Nashville, TN 37205
Texas: Houston – 1001 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX 77002
Virginia: Virginia Beach – 33 Princess Anne Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Washington: Seattle – 444 NE Ravens Blvd., Seattle, WA 98115
California: San Francisco – 100 Pine Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
Los Angeles – 750 West 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Colorado: Denver – 1555 Blake Street, Denver, CO 80202
Massachusetts: Boston – 136 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114
New Jersey: Newark – 999 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102
Rhode Island: Providence – 130 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903
Connecticut: Hartford – 211 Trumbull Street, Hartford, CT 06103

SOUND DIMINISHED VALUE ADVICE

February 25, 2024February 25, 2024 by stlucieappraisal

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company, Automobile Appraisers in all 50 States 772-359-4300 contact@stlucieappraisal.net

TESLA OWNER: In California you cannot claim Diminished Value (DV) against your own insurance company unless it is specifically written into the policy (I would imagine a high percentage of policies do not include DV). I went through a DV claim a few months ago. I was rear ended while stopped at a traffic signal and the at fault parties’ insurance (Nationwide) accepted responsibility. The damage was limited to the bumper cover and was less than $2,000.00 to repair. As we all know, the fact that the vehicle now has an accident on file is what lowers the value. Accidents with greater damage can increase the amount DV. The first thing I did was get a DV appraisal from https://tesladiminishedvalue.com for $350.00. I found that site through suggestions on Tesla Motors Club. The report was completed in about one week. Once completed, I sent the report along with the included demand letter over to Nationwide. It was almost immediately rejected. I contacted the at fault party and informed them that their insurance company rejected the claim and my only recourse would be small claims court, unless they could get Nationwide to pay the DV. Nationwide contacted me and asked that I not contact their client. I told them essentially that they needed to indemnify their client or I would sue. They did not change their stance. It is to be noted that you can file a complaint with the California Department of Insurance. However, my research suggested this would fruitless and a waste of time since they cannot legally make the insurance company pay the DV. Ultimately, I filed a small claims case within my county. It was much easier than I thought it would be.

A few things to note:

1. You can only sue the at fault party, and cannot sue the insurance company

2. The maximum amount for small claims court in California is $10,000.00 if you are suing an individual, and only $5,000.00 if you are suing a business. Anything higher and you will need to file a civil case which will increase court costs and may require an attorney.

3. The process for filing the claim was pretty easy using an automated program on the court’s website.

4. Court cost was around $80.00 to file the case. I paid an additional $55.00 to have a process server actually serve the at fault party and another $45.00 to have the server file the proof of service with the court. I never had to leave my house. I filed the small claims case online and made a phone call to the process server company. It was much easier than I thought.

5. Court was simple. No lawyers allowed in small claims court in California. The at fault party stipulated to being at fault, so I didn’t have to argue that portion. I brought the DV report, my email exchanges with nationwide and the at fault party, and screen shots of my phone records for the calls I made with them. The judge looked at the Diminished Value report and the at fault party argued that it should be less and that I hadn’t “realized” the DV because I didn’t sell the vehicle. The judge stated the vehicle did not need to be sold for the DV to be realized.

6. The judge ultimately ruled in my favor and I was awarded the DV. The at fault parties’ insurance company called me a day or two later and wanted to confirm my address prior to mailing me my check.

Some things I learned:

1. Get the DV report soon after the accident. I waited a while and the value of my car lowered in that 9-month time frame. It was hard for the judge to identify what the value of my vehicle would have been worth at the time of the accident. Ultimately, I was happy with the judgment awarded, but it was a little less than what I filed my claim for.

2. You have 3 years from the date of the accident to file the small claims case.

3. Insurance companies will flat out lie and tell you that DV does not exist in your state and feed a bunch of other lies as well. Do not believe them.

4. Do not waste time going back and forth. Move from requesting the DV and them denying it to immediately filing the small claims case. I only spent about 3 weeks, but I wish I had done it sooner. Some people go back and forth for months (No thanks).

5. If the at fault parties’ insurance still does not pay after the judgment, then the at fault party will need to turn around and sue their own insurance to recoup their loss. Theoretically, it would be a simple case for them to win.

6. Civil jury instruction 3903J within California specifically outlines Diminished Value In other words, clearly DV exists in California since there are literal instructions for a jury on the matter.

7. The judge did not include the $350.00 I paid for the report in his judgment, but did include the court fees.

I know this is lengthy, but I hope it helps someone out. Based on my research here on Tesla Motors Club and online there are a lot posts about Diminished Value, but not a clear explanation on filing one from start to finish. Obtaining the DV report was a $350.00 gamble, but in my case it was worth it. Good luck to all of you who took the time to read this!

*I am not a lawyer. I am passionate on this subject since I feel like insurance companies are more than happy to take money for premiums and then will fight tooth and nail to deny or minimize claims. I understand it is a “for profit” business, but I cannot stand them denying legitimate claims.

QUESTION: Who did you use to get the DV report?

TESLA OWNER: I used https://tesladiminshedvalue.com It’s a website used by the St. Lucie Appraisal Company. The report was thorough and I received it about a week after payment. I found their website on Tesla Motors Club. Best of luck!

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY
Click on the payment buttons below. The fee for an exotic car Automobile Diminished Value Report is $350.00. The fee for an exotic car Loss of Use Report is $225.00. You can also make your Credit Card Payment by telephone, call 772-359-4300.Before making your secure payment please email the completed body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@tesladiminishedvalue.com

Service throughout Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi , Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

This is an Open Education resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.TESLADIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company

DIMINISHED VALUE EXPERT

December 21, 2024December 21, 2023 by stlucieappraisal

Diminished Value is the difference in the value of your car directly before and directly after collision repairs have been completed. After being repaired, your car has a bad Carfax or other vehicle history report. Used-car buyers prefer to purchase cars that were never previously damaged so your car, by comparison, is less appealing; hence, it is worth less. If there was frame, unibody or air bag deployment it is worth a lot less. You can make a third-party diminished value claim against the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident. The first step is to obtain an automobile diminished value appraisal from a diminished value expert. The St. Lucie Appraisal Company services all 50 states by providing diminished value reports and expert witness testimony for owners of damaged vehicles. Call a diminished value expert at 772-359-4300 or email us at contact@autodiminishedvalue.com if you have questions or need more information.

WHY WAS YOUR DIMINISHED VALUE CLAIM DENIED?

What makes a person or company an expert at something? We can answer that question in one word – results. A positive outcome for our clients is proof enough that our methodology for arriving at diminished value works better than those of our competitors. The St. Lucie Appraisal Company may be a small fish in the large pond of big-bucks-advertising diminished value appraisal companies but more insurance adjusters recommend us as a diminished value expert to their friends and families than anyone else. We consider it a compliment when former adversaries in diminished value matters, adjusters from State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and other insurers compliment our work.

DIMINISHED VALUE EXPERTS IN ALL 50 STATES

With regard to hiring an appraiser for a personal inspection your car, everyone should be aware that a physical inspection of the repaired car is completely unnecessary and only serves to line the appraiser’s pocket as you will be charged more for their service. The car is fixed. There’s nothing to see. In the case of REPAIR-RELATED diminished value, which is a loss of value because of shoddy repairs, a physical inspection is, indeed, necessary. Your claim, and 99% of all diminished value claims, is known as INHERENT DIMINISHED VALUE. It simply means that the car is worth less because it now has a repair history or bad Carfax. Our research is done based on a properly-repaired vehicle.

The Diminished Value experts at The St. Lucie Appraisal Company work hard for you by taking the time to obtain six verifiable diminished value opinions from new car dealers to confirm our estimations. No shortcuts like formulas, algorithms or online ad comparisons. These unbiased quotes have served as proof to magistrates and mediators alike. When insurance adjusters are presented with one of our appraisals, it is a signal that you are serious about collecting the full amount that your vehicle has lost due to the negligence of their policyholder. As your diminished value expert, we are prepared to represent your interests throughout the claims process. Virtually all of our competitors have had complaints lodged against them in sites like The Better Business Bureau, Yelp and Ripoff Report. You may feel free to search those sites as well as others like Angie’s List and you’ll never find a bad review of our company.

That makes The St. Lucie Appraisal Company more than a diminished value expert. It makes us the company you want to do business with.

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

Service throughout Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming

This is an Open Education Resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.
AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM, AUTOLOSSOFUSE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company.

MINNESOTA ANTIQUE CAR APPRAISER

December 10, 2023December 7, 2023 by stlucieappraisal

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota – In Minnesota, we have appraised almost every type of antique, classic and custom car. In addition, exotic cars such as Ferrari, Bentley and Tesla are here in abundance. When it comes time to appraise the value of your automobile, RV, motorcycle or heavy equipment for insurance, financing, diminished value or a charitable donation to a non-profit for a tax-deduction, The St. Lucie Appraisal Company is the company you want to call. Our experience appraising all types of motor vehicles provides car owners with the advantage of hiring someone who knows just how valuable old, well-kept cars can be. In addition, we keep an extensive library of past automotive sales that other appraisers can not match. We are a Minnesota antique car appraiser you can count on.

Many companies providing financing or insurance for autos, trucks and heavy equipment have strict requirements regarding the appraisal of vehicles. A bank or credit union lending money toward the purchase of an antique car, dump truck or over the road tractor will ask for an inspection by a licensed appraiser before committing funds toward the purchase. Likewise, insurance underwriters look for documentation before providing coverage. Bankruptcies and loan defaults among owner-operators of trucks and construction equipment make lenders and insurers extremely selective about who they do business with. The St. Lucie Appraisal Company is a company that banks and insurers choose to provide valuation services.

Selecting a company to perform a car or truck appraisal is typically the job of the prospective buyer or policyholder. As absurd as it sounds, the typical commercial lender or insurance broker is clueless when it comes to finding a licensed independent appraiser. Often the vehicle owner is asked to locate an independent appraiser because banking and insurance managers don’t possess Rolodexes any more. When lenders or brokers do hire us, it is often as a result of a Google search. What the vehicle owner should know, however, is that once the appraisal is given to the bank or insurer, representatives from those institutions will then perform their due diligence and query the appraiser as to how he obtained his valuation figures.

After making certain that the independent appraiser is properly licensed, investigate for yourself their expertise and any reviews from past clients. When their appraisal is placed under the microscope of the insurer or lender, if their answers don’t meet the bank’s or insurance company’s criteria, you have wasted your money on a worthless document.

Call The St. Lucie Appraisal Company when only the best and most knowledgeable appraiser will do. Our service area includes Minnesota as well as all 50 states Our appraisals are sought after for insurance, financing, donations for tax-deductions, diminished value, bankruptcies, divorces, insurance claim disputes, purchase & sales and estate dissolutions.

REQUEST AN AUTOMOBILE VALUATION APPRAISAL – $275.00 for most cars.

Please eMail photographs and other vehicle information to Email: contact@stlucieappraisal.net

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

Service in Jackson, Gulfport, Southaven, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Meridian, Tupelo, Olive Branch, Greenville and throughout Mississippi.

ARKANSAS ANTIQUE CAR APPRAISER

December 10, 2023December 1, 2023 by stlucieappraisal

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – In Arkansas, we have appraised almost every type of antique, classic and custom car. In addition, exotic cars such as Ferrari, Bentley and Tesla are here in abundance. When it comes time to appraise the value of your automobile, RV, motorcycle or heavy equipment for insurance, financing or a charitable donation to a non-profit for a tax-deduction, The St. Lucie Appraisal Company is the company you want to call. Our experience appraising all types of motor vehicles provides car owners with the advantage of hiring someone who knows just how valuable old, well-kept cars can be. In addition, we keep an extensive library of past automotive sales that other appraisers can not match. We are an Arkansas antique car appraiser you can count on.

Call The St. Lucie Appraisal Company when only the best and most knowledgeable appraiser will do. Our service area includes Arkansas as well as all 50 states Our appraisals are sought after for insurance, financing, donations for tax-deductions, bankruptcies, divorces, insurance claim disputes, purchase & sales and estate dissolutions.

REQUEST AN AUTOMOBILE VALUATION APPRAISAL – $275.00 for most cars.

Please eMail photographs and other vehicle information to Email: contact@stlucieappraisal.net

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

Service in Little Rock, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Springdale, Jonesboro, North Little Rock, Conway, Rogers, Pine Bluff, Bentonville, Hot Springs, Benton, Sherwood, Texarkana and throughout Arkansas.

Auto Diminished Value Case in Small Claims Court

November 21, 2024November 21, 2023 by stlucieappraisal

NOTE: This article is intended as a guide and not as a form of legal advice.

Among the various and many articles that have been written about automobile diminished value, there are but a scant few that describe what happens when an irate claimant decides to become a plaintiff and escalates his claim into small claims court. Of course, there are many diminished value losses that exceed the $5,000.00 to $10,000.00 limit – each state has different thresholds – of this venue but for this article we will examine diminished value in small claims court. Small Claims Court is a special court where individuals, representing themselves, resolve disputes quickly and inexpensively in an informal setting. The person who sues is the plaintiff; the person who is sued is the defendant. In small claims court, you may ask a lawyer for advice before you go to court, but you cannot have a lawyer in court. Again, different state laws apply.

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company had occasion to prepare an automobile diminished value report for a client, but not before he had made a few mistakes. The gentleman owned a Honda Pilot which was damaged by a negligent driver who was insured with Safeco Insurance. After having his 3,900 mile vehicle repaired for $1,446.13, not a great deal of damage, he filed an automobile diminished value claim against Safeco. He presented as evidence of diminution, a document from his Honda dealer which stated that his vehicle, due to its now having a bad Carfax, was worth $4,000.00 less.

DIMINISHED VALUE IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT 772-359-4300

Insurance companies in general have become sophisticated in recognizing what types of claimants they are dealing with when it comes to diminished value. This claimant did not seek out an independent appraiser, rather, he decided to forgo the cost and present his case armed with a letter from his Honda dealer. Safeco, in turn, likely categorized him as someone who would not cause them any trouble; as might someone who would spring for the cost of an independent appraisal. Insurers take the same approach when claimants present them with the low-cost types of diminished value appraisals found on the internet. Safeco denied his diminished value claim, offering him absolutely nothing, not even a token few hundred dollars as many insurers typically do.

That’s when our client contacted us to prepare an automobile diminished value report. Our appraisal, which was done on the basis of six quotes obtained from area Honda dealers to confirm our opinion, came to $2,000.00. With the appraisal in hand, he then contacted his attorney who filed a small claims action against the defendant vehicle owner in civil court. We were again contracted to appear as an expert witness to defend our findings.

When Bringing a Diminished Value Lawsuit to Small Claims Court, Be Prepared to Win

Safeco brought it’s own defense team that included an expert witness. Their expert witness did not produce an appraisal based on dealer quotes – their contention was, repairs having been done to industry standards, that diminished value did not exist.

We were questioned by both the plaintiff’s and defendant’s attorneys before the judge rendered his decision. Objections of hearsay are common and you or your counsel must be prepared to meet that if you are to get the full benefit of the report. One of the questions asked by Safeco’s attorney was whether our diminished value report was biased. The answer was no and it was a truthful answer. When The St. Lucie Appraisal Company prepares an automobile diminished value report, we present the facts to the dealers queried exactly as they are. The year, make, model, options condition and color of the subject vehicle as well as the specific damages that were repaired. All of the dealers queried are informed that the subject vehicle is not available for purchase or trade, therefore none of the dealers queried had any vested interest in the subject vehicle. The results of our inquiries speak for themselves. We neither add nor subtract any opinions of our own, nor do we attempt to skew results in favor of our clients.

Our appraisal fee is $275.00 and the cost to hire us as an expert witness is $675.00. Our client’s’s attorney fees were in the neighborhood of $1,000.00. However, he was so put off by the cavalier treatment he received from Safeco, he decided to risk spending the additional monies in order to extract a fair settlement from the insurer.

In the end, the magistrate agreed with our appraisal and also with the fact that compensation for diminished value was due even though the claimant had no intention of selling his vehicle. In addition to awarding the claimant $2,000.00 in diminished value, the judge ruled that Safeco should also pay all of the claimant’s appraisal, expert witness and legal fees. It was a bad day for the insurance company seeing as they were also on the hook for payment of their own defense costs, but it took the fervor of the claimant – his David vs. Goliath mentality – to put all of that in motion.

Our client’s attorney could not seek any punitive damages even though evidence of unfair claim practices existed. Perhaps in the future, when more Davids summon the courage to challenge Goliaths, all 50 states will adopt uniform laws that require fair and equitable treatment by insurers in automobile diminished value cases. Penalties for ignoring an obvious fact – that automobile diminished value does exist – may someday be imposed upon predatory insurance companies. On this day it was sweet vindication for our client and, hopefully, a warning for insurers to start walking a straighter line when presented with claims involving automobile diminished value.

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

This is an Open Education Resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.

AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company.
READ MORE ARTICLES…

APPRAISING A MOBILE HOME

November 12, 2023November 12, 2023 by stlucieappraisal

There is more to appraising the fair market value of a mobile home, manufactured home or modular home than taking measurements and counting the number of ceiling fans. Appraising a mobile home requires the same amount of research as doing an appraisal of a conventional home. A personal property appraiser must be familiar with manufacturers, recognizing conditions, values of add-ons such as decks and appliances, have knowledge of flooring, wall and roofing materials as well as determining if systems such as HVAC are functional, adequate and up to date. After performing an initial evaluation, research still needs to be done by the mobile home appraiser. Location, guide book values, land-lease terms and local market comparable sales all factor into the fair market value. Is the unit located in a desirable community? What is the monthly rent? Is the infrastructure in good condition? Are there an abundance of empty lots in the area? What is the level and cost of maintenance? Is mass transit available nearby? Some of the reasons our clients seek appraisals include a chattel mortgage, financing, insurance, bankruptcy, tax disputes, divorce, charitable donations and estate dissolution.

APPRAISING A MOBILE HOME

Obtaining financing or insurance for a mobile home, manufactured home, modular home or airplane hangar requires a comprehensive appraisal. It is common for a mobile home owner or prospective buyer to call upon a real estate appraiser. Unfortunately, mobile homes that are on leased land aren’t considered real estate; rather, they are categorized as personal property. This unique classification can present a problem when trying to find a licensed appraiser to prepare a valuation appraisal. Most real estate appraisers don’t handle mobile homes and most personal property appraisers tend to be wholly unfamiliar with them. An experienced personal property appraiser versed in mobile home appraisals can be difficult to locate.

Banks, credit unions, insurance companies, bankruptcy and estate courts expect to read an independent, expert and unbiased opinion of value before recognizing an appraisal document. In many cases, mobile home parks are sold to developers. In order to obtain adequate compensation, a mobile home owner needs to obtain a credible valuation appraisal.

Sometimes tragedy strikes and a mobile home is destroyed. Whether by accident or natural disaster, reimbursement for the unit’s value when it is deemed a total loss must still be calculated by an appraisal. It is obviously a more difficult chore to determine the value of an item that has already been reduced to rubble. It is crucial that the mobile home owner be able to provide pertinent information as outlined above.

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

REQUEST A MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOME APPRAISAL – $325.00

We will need the following to appraise the value of your mobile home. Please email to contact@stlucieappraisal.net

YEAR
MANUFACTURER
MODEL
VIN#
LENGTH
WIDTH
DESCRIPTION AND MEASUREMENTS OF ROOMS
CONDITION (POOR-FAIR-GOOD-EXCELLENT)
NUMBER OF PORCHES
CARPORT
DECKS
PATIOS
SCREEN ROOMS
ROOFING
SKIRTING
SIDING
WINDOWS, DUAL GLAZED
STORM WINDOWS
SHUTTERS
SKYLIGHTS
CONDITION OF VAPOR BARRIER
OUTBUILDINGS/STORAGE
CATHEDRAL CEILING
CENTRAL AIR
HOT WATER HEATER
CABINETS
COUNTER TOPS
ISLAND KITCHEN
SINK, Stainless, Ceramic, etc.
REFRIGERATOR
DISHWASHER
GARBAGE DISPOSAL
BATH FIXTURES
WASHER/DRYER
FLOORING
HEATING
INTERIOR WALLS
CEILING FANS
SUSPENSION, WHEELS, TOW BAR
FIREPLACE
ENERGY STAR CERTIFIED HOME
REPAIRS NEEDED AND APPROX. COST
REPAIRS/MODIFICATIONS DONE
NAME OF MOBILE HOME PARK
LOT RENT AMOUNT AND SERVICES INCLUDED
AMENITIES (POOL, CLUB HOUSE, SHUFFLEBOARD, ETC.)
AGE-RESTRICTED COMMUNITY
LOCATION OF UNIT IF ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
PURPOSE OF APPRAISAL (FINANCING, INSURANCE, ESTATE, BANKRUPTCY, DONATION, ETC.)
YOUR OPINION OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE
YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION

Please send photos of the exterior and interior. Your appraisal, which costs $325.00, will take about a week to complete. Complete this form and make payment when you decide to move forward. Please call 772-359-4300 if you have any questions.

Miami Florida Automobile Appraiser

November 24, 2023November 12, 2023 by stlucieappraisal

MIAMI, Florida – In South Florida, we have appraised almost every type of antique, classic and custom car. In addition, exotic cars such as Ferrari, Bentley and Tesla are here in abundance. When it comes time to appraise the value of your automobile, RV, motorcycle or heavy equipment for insurance, financing, diminished value or a charitable donation to a non-profit for a tax-deduction, The St. Lucie Appraisal Company is the company you want to call. Our experience appraising all types of motor vehicles provides car owners with the advantage of hiring someone who knows just how valuable old, well-kept cars can be. In addition, we keep an extensive library of past automotive sales that other appraisers can not match. We are a Miami Florida-licensed automobile appraiser you can count on.

Many companies providing financing or insurance for autos, trucks and heavy equipment have strict requirements regarding the appraisal of vehicles. A bank or credit union lending money toward the purchase of an antique car, dump truck or over the road tractor will ask for an inspection by a licensed appraiser before committing funds toward the purchase. Likewise, insurance underwriters look for documentation before providing coverage. Bankruptcies and loan defaults among owners of custom and exotic cars make lenders and insurers extremely selective about who they do business with. The St. Lucie Appraisal Company is a company that banks and insurers choose to provide valuation services.

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

Our service area includes Miami as well as the rest of Florida. Our appraisals are sought after for insurance, financing, donations for tax-deductions, diminished value, bankruptcies, divorces, insurance claim disputes, purchase & sales and estate dissolutions. Call The St. Lucie Appraisal Company when only the best and most knowledgeable automobile appraiser will do.

The St. Lucie Appraisal Company
P.O. Box 2700
Fort Pierce, FL 34954
Phone: (772) 359-4300
Email: contact@stlucieappraisal.net

Service in Aventura, Coral Gables, Doral, Hialeah, Key Biscayne, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Gardens, Miami Springs, North Bay, North Miami, Opa-Locka, South Miami, Sunny Isles, Sweetwater and West Miami. Auto appraiser near 33125, auto appraiser near 33142, auto appraiser near 33161, auto appraiser near 33165, auto appraiser near 33177, auto appraiser near 33186, auto appraiser near 33187

This is an Open Education Resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company.
READ MORE ARTICLES…

YOUR CAR WAS WRECKED AND REPAIRED.WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?

November 12, 2023November 10, 2023 by stlucieappraisal

If the crash was the someone else’s fault, you can file a diminished value claim to recover your car’s loss in value.

The terminology for this type of claim is a Third-Party Inherent Auto Diminished Value Claim. It is part of the overall claim that can include Bodily Injury, Collision, Loss of Use, etc. With a Collision Claim, the cost of a fender is known (although insurance companies will try to stick you with cheaper aftermarket or used ones) and the labor and paint times are fixed. With a Loss of Use Claim, the amounts that car rental companies charge for comparable cars are pretty much in the same ball park. With Auto Diminished Value Claims, however, who is to determine the approximate amount a vehicle has lost in value after being fixed and now having a repair history? Which methodology should be used? Insurance companies sometimes try to deny Auto Diminished Value claims altogether despite insurmountable evidence that all cars lose value after undergoing collision repairs. A vehicle that sustained structural damage or air bag deployment can lose half of its value.

third-party-inherent-diminished-value-claim — YOUR CAR WAS WRECKED AND REPAIRED.WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?

Auto Diminished Value is considered a “stigma” loss and opinions as to the existence and approximate amount of the loss in value differ. In the history of such claims, it is doubtful that an insurance appraiser’s assessment of a car’s loss in value has ever been higher than that of the claimant’s independent appraiser. At The St. Lucie Appraisal Company, our methodology is time-consuming but simple. We query the sales managers at multiple new car dealerships, describing the car and the repairs, they in turn will tell us how much less, typically, they would pay for the car. We obtain six of them and they are unbiased, professional opinions that confirm the validity of our numbers. A claimant should be aware that most independent appraisers do not go to these lengths, instead employing formulas, algorithms, online ad comparisons or other short cuts. We offer all prospective clients the same advice. You’ll need two things – a good appraisal and persistence. The second part of the equation is that the claimant must be pro-active and follow our suggestions such as insisting on written correspondences, escalating claims to supervisors, letting the file handler know that we are willing to speak to them, filing unfair claims practices complaints with state insurance departments, etc.

Auto Diminished Value claims can go smoothly or in the opposite direction. We rarely hear back from our clients but inevitably the ones who do call asking “what do I do next?” are the ones who don’t follow the suggestions we provide for them.

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

This is an Open Education resource focused on auto diminished value, collective knowledge and the sharing of scholarly content.
AUTODIMINISHEDVALUE.COM and TOTALLOSSDISPUTE.COM are services of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company

ARTICLE: HOW AND WHEN TO APPLY FOR A DIMINISHED VALUE CLAIM

November 12, 2023November 9, 2023 by stlucieappraisal

We recently had the pleasure of weighing in on a topic of great importance to anyone who owns a late-model car – the loss in value of your vehicle after accident repairs have been completed. It is known as auto diminished value and is the insurance industry’s most closely-guarded secret. Chicago Tribune Reporter Cathy Cunningham called with questions on the subject to which we were more than happy to respond. Read the abridged article below and feel free to call us should you, a family member or a friend find yourselves in what can turn out to be a difficult situation.

November 20, 2017
By Cathy Cunningham

Dear Help Squad,
I would like to file a diminished value claim in Illinois. 
My wife was involved in a car accident and it was not her fault. 
Could you tell me what I should do if I want to file it myself without hiring a lawyer?
Thank you,
Vladica

Since writing a column on the topic in early 2016, I’ve learned that diminished value is a frequently searched issue. So Vladica’s request for assistance offered the perfect opportunity to provide a deeper dive into the subject. For this I turned to an industry expert, Franklin Colletta, owner of The St. Lucie Appraisal Company in Fort Pierce, Florida, an auto appraisal business that specializes in assisting consumers with diminished value claims and services customers across the U.S.

Let’s begin with a basic definition. Just what is diminished value?

“Diminished value is the difference in the value of your car directly before and directly after collision repairs have been completed,” Colletta explains. He points out that once a car has been in an accident and repaired, it has a negative vehicle history report (such as through Carfax) associated with it. “Because car buyers almost always prefer to purchase cars that haven’t been in accidents, a vehicle with an accompanying damage history becomes less valuable.”

“If there was frame damage or air bag deployment [as a result of the accident] the car is worth a lot less,” he adds.

In Illinois, as well as in all 50 states, consumers can only file for diminished value as a third-party claim, meaning these claims must be filed against the insurance company of the person responsible for the damage. They cannot be filed with one’s own insurance provider (aka a first-party claim).

“This is important to know,” said Colletta, “because many insurance companies will try to say that Illinois case law prohibits diminished value claims. While that may be true for first-party claims, there is no case law that addresses third-party claims. Diminished value claims are covered under the property damage portion of the at-fault driver’s automobile insurance policy.”

Colletta emphasized it is not necessary to hire a lawyer to file a diminished value claim.

The claimant will then receive a response. This will either be payment in full, an attempt to negotiate a lower payout or a denial. When denied, the reason given is typically one of the following: the documentation is deemed faulty, other “evidence” is offered to suggest the loss is much lower, the insurance company hires its own “independent appraiser” to determine there is no loss, or, in some cases, the claim is unfairly denied because the damage has been properly repaired.

When I asked if there was a minimum threshold for filing a diminished value claim, Colletta explained all vehicles damaged as a result of someone else’s negligence are eligible.

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS OF THE ST. LUCIE APPRAISAL COMPANY

After making your secure payment please email the body shop estimate or insurance company appraisal to contact@autodiminishedvalue.com TESLA AND OTHER EXOTIC CAR OWNERS PLEASE CALL FOR RATES.

Services available in Arlington Heights, Aurora, Bloomington, Bolingbrook, Champaign, Chicago, Cicero, Decatur, Des Plaines, Elgin, Evanston, Joliet, Naperville, Palatine, Peoria, Rockford, Schaumburg, Skokie, Springfield, Waukegan and throughout Illinois

Adams, Alexander, Bond, Boone, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, Cook, Crawford, Cumberland, DeKalb, DeWitt, Douglas, DuPage, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, La Salle, Lake, Lawrence, Lee, Livingston, Logan, McDonough, McHenry, McLean, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Massac, Menard, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Pope, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Richland, Rock Island, Saline, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, St.Clair, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Union, Vermilion, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne, White, Whiteside, Will, Williamson, Winnebago and Woodford Counties